by Rebecca Weis, reporter
OMAHA – Nearly 90 percent of all small businesses in Nebraska are affected by COVID-19. One small business owner Erica Pokorny decides to focus on the positive side of what her business brings.
Erica Pokorny is well known for her delicious cupcakes. But little do people know that if it were not for Erica’s grandmother, she never would have learned how to bake. Erica’s grandmother taught her everything she knew about baking at a young age.
“As she got older, I decided I didn’t want what she had taught me to go to waste,” said Pokorny owner of Cupcakery. It certainly did not. Erica then began her own baking business at the age of 13 when her aunt asked her to bake for her wedding. Erica was nervous at first but after seeing the reaction, she knew she was on to something.
“Actually, after that orders just started pouring in. I didn’t mean for it to happen but it just did, and now 8 and half years later here we are,” said Pokorny.
Erica’s busiest time of year is the summer. On any given day, Erica will sell around 300-600 cupcakes. However, with COVID-19 cancelling events it did slow down Erica’s business.
“It did impact it in the sense that summer is my busy time, and obviously people couldn’t have events and things. So, it was a lot slower than it used to be,” Pokorny said.
Over five thousand small businesses were affected by COVID-19. However, Erica chooses to focus on the happiness her business brings her customers.
“I always want to make whoever I’m baking for happy. That is honestly the biggest thing that I love about what I do. Seeing someone’s reaction when they try a cupcake or try the frosting or whatever the case maybe. They always get so excited. That is also one of the biggest reasons I do what I do,” Pokorny said.
